Press Release | Local Conservationist Samuel Bamidele Accepted into an International Emerging Leader Program
Samuel Bamidele has served as a member and mentor for the last 6 months at Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health. Samuel was accepted into the 2025 class of the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s (SWCS) Emerging Leaders Program. Recognized as the premier international organization for professionals shaping the future of natural resource conservation, SWCS has chosen Bamidele for his outstanding commitment to the science and art of conservation. He will join a group of up-and-coming leaders in conservation that are spread across several countries and disciplines.
SWCS’s CEO Clare Lindahl created the program after reflecting on her own leadership journey. “I was looking back at my career and thinking about things that would have helped me be a better leader, what mistakes I made and what really worked well,” said Lindahl. “It just made sense to create a way to help the next generation of leaders in conservation practice and advocacy by providing them with tools, resources and opportunities to learn and mature their individual leadership styles.”
Throughout this program, participants will participate in four interactive learning modules to receive training and resources from SWCS staff and partners. They will fine-tune and expand their skills and networks to further advance conservation in their career and in their local community. “This cohort of young leaders promises to drive generational change and progress on life-sustaining conservation issues through the SWCS framework that has been in place for some 80 years,” said SWCS CEO Clare Lindahl.
The inaugural 2024 Emerging Leaders Program marked a significant milestone, with over 100 graduates contributing to impactful conservation work. Between them, they organized 94 events, reaching over 7,000 attendees and partnering with 244 organizations. These leaders have already integrated themselves into SWCS leadership, with some joining the National Board of Directors and various committees, and others making significant contributions to the SWCS International Annual Conference and local chapters. With such an impressive foundation laid by the 2024 graduates, the Society eagerly anticipates seeing the 2025 class of leaders continue this legacy and further advance their shared mission.
Bamidele’s acceptance into the SWCS Emerging Leaders Program not only underscores his exceptional contributions to conservation but also positions him as a dynamic force shaping the future of our community’s conservation efforts.
About SWCS
For eighty years, the Soil and Water Conservation Society has been the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation. We believe sustainable land and water management is essential to the continued security of the earth and its people. Our goal is to cultivate an organization of informed, dynamic individuals whose contributions create a bright future for agriculture, the environment, and society. The Soil and Water Conservation Society is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, with chapters across the United States and Canada.
For more information, contact:
Emma Harper, SWCS Communications Coordinator
Emma.harper@swcs.org
